SALINAS – Two Hollister American assistant coaches lifted a
smiling Steven Cabral up in the air with all their might.
SALINAS – Two Hollister American assistant coaches lifted a smiling Steven Cabral up in the air with all their might. It was the least they could do. Cabral had just carried Hollister American to the District 9 11-12 year-old Majors championship with a complete game, 10 strikeout performance to stave off a game Hollister National side 6-4 at Ferrasci Field Tuesday night.
“He was the Most Valuable Player in our league and he was the Most Valuable Player in the tournament,” said Hollister American manager Steve Ferranti of his stout righthander. “He had three wins in the tournament and dented a few balls with some of his hits. I haven’t seen many play like Steven in an All-Star tournament. We couldn’t have won it without him. But he had a lot of help, too.”
Cabral will most likely get the ball when Hollister American starts Section 5 play this Friday vs. the District 39 representative at Eastridge Little Leauge Field in San Jose.
Cabral, pitching on just two days rest, wasn’t razor sharp, as he walked four and hit a batter. And his defense strugged early in the game, making four errors in the first two innings, which led to two unearned runs for Hollister National.
“We had some early-game jitters,” said Ferranti. “Yes, I’m concerned about the defense. Fortunately, we didn’t allow the big inning because we knew National can score in bunches.”
“My defense wasn’t playing its best early, but they made some plays later in the game to help me out,” said Cabral.
American shortstop Trevor Gessell may have saved the game, or at least, prevented National from tying the score in the fourth inning. National had just scored two runs on a Justin Schlie home run, his fourth homer of the tournament, and was sitting pretty with Bret Furtado on at first and Dane Lamanna on at second. It also had its hottest hitter at the plate in Marcus Synegal.
Synegal hit a scalding line drive, which looked to be headed to left field, perhaps even find the gap, which would cause all sorts of problems for American. However, Gessell, who didn’t have any time to think, leapt in the air, stuck up his glove and snared it for the final out of the inning.
“If that ball is three or four feet either way, who knows?” said Ferranti.
“That was a big play,” said National manager Tim Furtado.
Cabral seemed to find himself the final two innings. His fastball was kept down and the snap on his curveball was at its best. He struck out the side in the fifth, giving up a walk to Chad Whitehead along the way. Cabral needed some superior defense in the sixth, however, to preserve the win.
Anthony Alvarez bounded his third hit of the game down the first baseline as American first baseman Justin Terrill couldn’t quite glove it. Cabral then fielded a comebacker, threw to Gessell at second, who made the fine turn and throw to Terrill at first. Terrill made the scoop on the other end to complete the double play as Cabral raised his hands in the air.
Jeff Hann drew a walk to, once again, bring the tying run to the plate. Cabral fanned the final batter to end the threat.
Hollister National flashed some leather, as well. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, National starter Derek Palermo struck out an American batter. The ball got past Hann, the catcher. Gessell was on third and got halfway down the line before he realized he wasn’t going to make it as Hann quickly retrieved the ball. National did a great job of executing the rundown and quickly put the tag on Gessell with Palermo doing the honors, running Gessell back to third base.
One of the great catches of the tournament was by Synegal in left when he burst into foul territory to catch a deep drive by Kyle Zozaya. Alvarez, meanwhile, played an exciting center field, charging in for a fine catch to rob Trevor Fabing of a basehit in the third inning. And in the second, Alvarez nearly threw out Terrill at first base on a base hit to center, exhibiting a strong arm.
Terrill’s solo home run, his fourth of the year, led off the third to give American a 5-2 lead. Then with one out, Kyle Vallejo, one of four 11 year-olds on the American team, laced a ground rule double into left-center. Two batters later, Gessell singled sharply to left field to knock in Vallejo.
It was a great effort by Hollister National, which had to play nine games in 11 days to work its way through the loser’s bracket all the way to the title game.
“Wow!” was the first word from Tim Furtado minutes after the game was over. “What a game! We had some chances to score more runs early in the game and we didn’t do it. Hollister American is a good team and should do well in the Section tournament.”
“This is a bittersweet win,” said Ferranti, fighting back some tears. “I’ve coached a lot of those kids. They’re a great team and a great group of kids.”
Section 5 note: Two Hollister American players originally selected on the roster, quit part-way through the tournament. That meant Hollister American played with just 10 players the past few games. Hollister Little League President Craig Vallejo stated that there will be at least one player added to the roster for the Section tournament, however, the player has yet to be named.
Hol Nat 110 200 – 4 7 2
Hol Am 042 00X – 6 8 4
Palermo, Whiteside (2) and Hann; Cabral and Reyes. WP-Cabral. LP-Palermo. 2B – Vallejo (HA). HR – Schlie (HN); Terrill (HA). 3 hits – Alvarez (HN). 2 hits – Gessell, Terrill (HA). 2 RBI – Schlie (HN); Gessell (HA).
